Amazon, the internet retailer, has been compared to 1984's 'Ministry of Truth'
by representatives of George Orwell's estate for misusing quotes

Amazon has been compared to the ‘Ministry of Truth’ by the representatives of George Orwell’s estate after they used his name in vain in a row over the price of ebooks.

The online retailer used a partial quote from the 1984 author in its very public battle with publisher Hachette to reduce the price of ebooks.

But the tactic has led to Amazon being accused of using the “doublespeak” described to take part in the Ministry of Truth in the book, as only part of the quote was used in a letter to readers, the Guardian reported.

The letter said: “The famous author George Orwell came out publicly and said about the new paperback format, if 'publishers had any sense, they would combine against them and suppress them' "Yes, George Orwell was suggesting collusion."

However the full quote shows that Orwell was infact praising the paperback with his words, as he said: “The Penguin books are splendid value for sixpence, so splendid that if other publishers had any sense they would combine against them and suppress them."

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Bill Hamilton, a literary agent at AM Heath and the executor of the Orwell estate, wrote to the New York Times to complain about the use of the quote and claimed Amazon was using Orwell’s name in vain.

In his complaint he said the use of the quote was "about as close as one can get to the Ministry of Truth and its doublespeak: turning the facts inside out to get a piece of propaganda across"

Jean Seaton, director of the Orwell prize, set up in his honour, branded the use of the quote "dystopian."

He claimed Orwell gave a lot of money away to struggling writers but Amazon had no interest in nuturing amateur talent and was only trying to maximise its commercial interest.